Job Description
About Standard Chartered
We are a leading international bank focused on helping people and companies prosper across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
To us, good performance is about much more than turning a profit. It's about showing how you embody our valued behaviours - do the right thing, better together and never settle - as well as our brand promise, Here for good.
We're committed to promoting equality in the workplace and creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. This in turn helps us to provide better support to our broad client base.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy
Contribute to the Bank’s drive to proactively and tightly manage legal risk, further deepen controls, and demonstrate the highest level of ethics and integrity.
Support regaining the trust of our regulators and the wider business community through proactive regulatory engagement in collaboration with CFCC.
Collaborate across the Bank in pursuing the objective to achieve FCR excellence through execution and delivery of robust controls
Business
Support the business segments build a profitable growth business through:
Ensuring tight legal controls, robust advice on transactions, quick turnaround of work and cost discipline;
Development of a culture of legal awareness in the business approach to avoid losses on avoidable legal matters; and
Progressively reducing legal spend on external legal counsel through development of internal expertise and doing more in-house.
Processes
The following process falls within the risk universe for which the role is Process Owner:
Managing domestic court and/ or production orders throughout the bank.
The following risk fall within the risk universe for which the role is Risk Control Owner:
Legal enforceability (Potential for loss due to failure to protect legally the Group’s interests or from difficulty in enforcing the Group’s rights).
People and Talent
Develop talent through:
Rigorous identification of High Performance, High Potential Individuals (9 box).
Identifying critical resources and hot skills to be ‘Ring Fenced’.
Robust succession planning.
Creating opportunities for STAs and engagement opportunities with senior Legal (and other business and function) staff.
Creating opportunities for leadership Development Programs.
Focusing on talent identification and acquisition.
Leading through example and building the appropriate culture and values.
Setting appropriate tone and expectations from the team and work in collaboration with risk and control partners.
Constantly Reviewing team structure/capacity plans.
Setting and monitoring job descriptions and objectives for direct reports and providing feedback and rewards in line with their performance against those responsibilities and objectives.
Risk Management
Provide leadership in the Legal team to comply with the highest standards of regulatory and business conduct and practices as defined by internal and external requirements. Understand and ensure compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations and guidelines including those governing securities activities, company law, anti-money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions; the Group’s policies and procedures; and the Group Code of Conduct. Take responsibility for understanding the risk and compliance requirements of the role. Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk and compliance matters.
Be clear on the Group’s corporate governance approach, requirements and operational risk framework, and provide assurance on compliance with the Non-Banking Subsidiary Governance Policy requirements and minimum standards.
Governance
Assist the Head of Legal and Company Secretary in assessing the effectiveness of the Bank’s Legal related arrangements to deliver effective governance, oversight and controls in the business and, if necessary, oversee changes in these areas
Develop and maintain awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework in which the firm operates, and the regulatory requirements and expectations relevant to the role
Responsible for delivering ‘effective governance’; capability to challenge fellow executives effectively; and willingness to work with any local regulators in an open and cooperative manner.
Provide unified leadership and ensure strong end to end governance across all matters related to the company.
Corporate Secretariat
Provide advice to the Directors, INEDs and Accountable Executives on board/ board committee agendas to ensure the directors have the right information to make the decisions/ approvals being requested in the nominee company board meetings.
Work closely with the Head of Legal and Company Secretary and Regional Cosec to develop, maintain and execute on a robust board succession plan.
Deliver a tailored induction programme for all newly appointed directors within three months of appointment including relevant training on the product and legislation.
Consult, guide and advise the directors on relevant ongoing training in respect to fiduciary duties, director responsibilities and liabilities, governance developments/ issues, strategic priorities and risk management principles. Maintain a log of all training completed.
Be a ‘trusted advisor’ to the directors and INEDs and be their point of contact for all corporate governance and board related matters.
Support the Head of Legal and Company Secretary in establishing and maintaining a robust relationship with independent non-executive directors
Ensure Group led ‘linkages’ initiatives are fully supported by the directors. Proactively provide information of significance to the Independent Directors, particularly in respect to public information about the Group or any matter that is likely to be reported in the public domain. Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and liaise with the Regional Head, COSEC to ensure alignment.
Provide advice and work with the Chairman to ensure a board evaluation is conducted on an annual basis and follow up actions are implemented
Manage all entities in Blueprint where named as the Responsible Person (“RP”) and ensure that Blueprint is always maintained and accurate.
Provide guidance to all Accountable Executives (AE) in the country so they fully understand their responsibilities and complete their six-monthly reports to the Governing Chief Executive Officer.
Provide advice to all stakeholders on corporate authorities and work closely with the senior management to ensure relevant board and committee approvals are obtained on a timely basis.
Ensure that all senior managers clearly understand the sources of authority framework and the process for obtaining approval authority and demonstrating evidence as appropriate to external third parties (includes advisory on the Group Authorised Signatory Book, Group Delegated Authorities Manual and Power of Attorney Policy).
Regulatory & Business Conduct
Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
Support the Legal and Company Secretary team to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles
Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.
Exercise authorities delegated by the Board of Directors and act in accordance with Articles of Association
Embed the Group’s Values and Group Code of Conduct to ensure adherence with the highest standards of ethics. Comply with relevant policies, processes and regulations, as part of the culture. Lead by example by displaying exemplary conduct behaviours
Key Stakeholders
Executive Committee (CMT) members, Zimbabwe
Head of Legal and Company Secretary, Southern Africa and Zimbabwe
Head of Subsidiary Governance, AME
AME Legal Management Team
Business contacts within SCB (from a consultative perspective)
Financial Services and other relevant Regulators
Other relevant Group departments where applicable
External service providers where applicable
Other Responsibilities
Embed Group’s brand and values in the Legal team,
Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business or Functional policies and procedures.
Ensure the Legal team achieves objectives and goals as agreed with stakeholders
Qualifications and Experience
Qualified and admitted as an attorney in Zimbabwe
Minimum of 3 years legal experience.
Strong interpersonal skills
Excellent writing skills (English)
High level communication skills
